Why Bother Playing the Guitar Here are Some Benefits.

Why Bother Playing the Guitar Here are Some Benefits. What are the Benefits of Playing a Musical Instrument Like The Guitar? ChaptersWhy You'll Never Regret Learning How to Play Guitar.It’s a Scientific Fact: the Guitar Brings Pleasure  Playing Guitar Releases StressThe Guitar Takes Away Pain.  The Guitar Boosts Brain ActivityGuitar Playing Improves Your HeartThe Guitar Boosts Your Self-ConfidenceGuitar Playing Improves Your Creativity and Your ConcentrationThe Guitar Increases Your Power of SeductionHave you ever asked yourself why guitarists seem so relaxed and at ease on stage?  What is it about the guitar player that is so zen - playing guitar chords like it's the easiest thing in the world?  Some guitar players even appear immortal, like Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones.Is it that they have better doctors than us normal folk? A healthier lifestyle? Surely not….So read on to discover how playing a chord on a Fender can stimulate your gray matter, wipe away your stress and even boost your sex-appeal! Because a guitar teacher isn't just unlocking your knowledge of tablature and the pentatonic, bu t is doing you all sorts of favours that you'll appreciate later on!Whatever the time period,  the guitar has always been an attractive, even captivating, musical instrument. It’s the ideal tool for seducing as well as for expressing oneself freely through one’s own compositions or playing classic guitar tunes.There is no ideal age for playing the guitar: whether you’re 8, 18, 38 or 68 years old, age makes no difference. From the moment that you feel the urge to play the guitar, once the motivation is there, well that’s the right moment to get started.What’s more, you can play all the musical styles that you want to on the guitar, like blues, rock, pop, reggae, funk, punk or even classical music. You do have the acoustic guitar, the electric guitar, and the classical guitar for a reason!You just have to choose the appropriate guitar. This advice will help both absolute beginners and even more advanced players.All the same, to be certain that the sounds you’re making aren ’t tempting your family and neighbors to cry, we recommend learning the basics of this instrument by taking guitar lessons and watching guitar videos. Don’t, obviously, forget to tune your guitar. But you'll have to learn a bit of everything - from power chords to the major scale, from fingerpicking to advanced guitar tricks - to ensure you are getting everything you can out of your new guitar.Whether they are online courses, guitar lessons with a private instructor, or classes in a music school, the training should correspond to your individual needs.Once you’ve acquired the guitar basics, from learning to read music and develop a fingerstyle and strumming patterns, you’ll happily discover that you can play several pieces of music. From easy songs, basic chords, and barre chords, you’ll soon make your way to more advanced guitar solos!But, beyond that, whether it’s from the pleasure of playing or copying tunes, playing the guitar has numerous other affects, notably on o ur wellbeing and health.It’s a Scientific Fact: the Guitar Brings Pleasure  Let’s be clear, it’s not just the guitar â€" all musical practice brings real pleasure.According to a neuroscience study at the University of McGill in Montreal, Canada, listening and playing guitar liberates wellbeing hormones like dopamine, the hormone of happiness as it’s popularly known.Guitar playing makes you happy!According to this same study, playing the guitar and listening to music triggers the same chemical process at the level of the brain as having a sexual experience.So while it sounds strange, some say that playing the guitar is a sort of musical masturbation.The word comes off a bit strong, but the facts have proven it: the more you listen to music or play the guitar, the more pleasure you take from it, as your brain secretes the hormone dopamine. Time to get started on those guitar scales and octaves!So forget all your preconceived ideas about the guitar! It's not all chord progressi ons, guitar tabs, and songs to learn. Or, at least, it is - but it's a lot more than that too.Playing Guitar Releases StressWe all have really full days from time to time, and whether it’s in our private sphere or professional milieu, some are more stressful than others, right?Between your boss who aggravates you, bills that come at the worst time, traffic jams, bad weather, terrible dates, there are a thousand and one reasons to be stressed during the day.Need to take a moment for the self by playing guitar?Fortunately, once you have your own Gibson Les Paul guitar or your Telecaster, plug it into a  Marshall guitar amp  and you strum those first guitar strings, the stress will fade away in no time at all.Wit a few indispensable guitar accessories like a  pick, capo, and metronome  you are ready to go! You’ll be playing like Clapton soon enough…Whether you take guitar courses with an instructor, follow an online guitar course, or you play alone in your room, the effect is the same: you’ll loosen up by playing those six strings  (and this goes for all styles, be it on a classical bass, acoustic bass, blues guitar, rock guitar, or rhythm guitar). Whether it's jazz guitar you play or the chord progression of your favorite songs by Hendrix you practice, all of this will help.According to a double study led by Loma Linda University in California and its School of Medicine, stress is significantly reduced as soon as one plays an instrument like the guitar.And these virtues have been recognized since the origins of the guitar!This manifests itself on a genetic level: musical vibrations impact our blood pressure and immune system, which helps us fight viruses.The guitar is good for the health! If that's not a reason to learn how to play the guitar, I don't know what is!The Guitar Takes Away Pain.  If you have chronic pains, or are suffering physically or psychologically, learning the guitar and listening to music allows your spirit to disconnect, considerably reducing pain.Enjoy playing the guitar.By focusing on intonations, musical vibrations, music theory, or on memorizing guitar songs, you’ll focus less on pain, allowing your body to relax and your spirit to escape.A study at the University of Utah  with the Center of Pain Research illustrated these  effects of music on the body. PeterGuitar Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EdgarGuitar Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PaulGuitar Teacher 5.00 (12) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToddGuitar Teacher 4.75 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamueleGuitar Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KurtGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RyanGuitar Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Guitar Boosts Brain ActivityA recent Scottish study illustrated that if y ou play the guitar â€" true for any musical instrument â€" you are more able to sharpen your cerebral functions and activity.Playing the guitar heightens mental alacrity! Photo Visual Hunt.This is notably beneficial for the fight against mental degeneration in the short and long terms.So, “fret” no more! Stop taking pills for increasing your cerebral activity, and instead tune a guitar, take guitar lessons, consult your tablatures, study and play scales, and your brain will thank you. Are you fantasizing about that fretboard yet?Guitar Playing Improves Your HeartDid you know that rockers have rock-solid cardiovascular systems?Indeed, Dutch researchers have discovered that people who practice a musical activity like guitar playing for at least 100 minutes per day have significantly reduced blood pressure and cardiac rhythm when compared to those who don’t play music.This fact was included in another study by Boston’s Berklee School of Music led by the chair of the Music Thera py department, Suzanne Hanser.Playing music has real impact on our health, especially for the elderly as it slows down the heart, and lessens stress, anxiety and depression. Time to start researching those free guitar lessons…While you’re completely rapt up in your guitar playing, left in a trance by your music, your blood pressure falls to normal levels, and you feel more relaxed.And if you learn to sing at the same time as you play, this will also have a positive effect on your lungs, by making them work to their full capacity of oxygen.The Guitar Boosts Your Self-ConfidenceThe guitar is an excellent outlet.While singing brings an immediate health benefit, in general, playing and creating your own music allows you to freely express yourself, your emotions, ideas, and you who are to others.Find your confidence by playing those 6-strings! Image Visual Hunt.In expressing yourself completely and without censure on your guitar, you will liberate a strong emotional charge, which wil l heighten your self-confidence.Singing a song or playing a piece of music may prove to be easy for some, but creating, composing, and inventing one represents an entirely different personal challenge. As soon as you’ve done it, you will have gained an enormous amount of confidence in yourself.Every songwriter has the knowledge that he or she is fully capable of inventing something unique.Haven't you heard? A confident person is almost as sexy as guitar music!Guitar Playing Improves Your Creativity and Your ConcentrationSimply start with Guitar 101. The more you play guitar, the more your brain accumulates information: as soon as you’ve acquired all the guitar basics like the main chords, playing with a pick, finger placement to pull off chords sequences or play your first solos, you’ll realize that you want to keep on learning.It’s as though you put your finger inside gears and it’s impossible to get out of them.Bring out your creative potential by taking guitar lessons! Image: Visual Hunt.Once you’ve mastered the techniques by taking guitar classes, for instance, you’ll be able access the more creative part of guitar playing.According to an important study from the prestigious University of Cambridge, musicians and especially guitarists continue to be creative even when they’ve stopped playing their instrument.They’ve invested so much into their music that their entire environment becomes a pretext for composing or making changes to their music.It’s often during a walk, or during an evening with friends, when you hear a sound, a rhythm or that you feel a certain emotion that you want to put to music.The Guitar Increases Your Power of SeductionYes it’s a cliché. But it’s also a scientific fact.The guitar reinforces your power of seduction. Ah  to be a guitarist! It’s a whole other world, isn’t it?Researchers in psychology have made music-based studies that illustrate how women more freely associate musical capacity with intelligen ce, commitment, determination in work and physical prowess.Learning to play the guitar can make you really quite attractive.Why do women love guitarists, who are unrivaled in comparison to other men?Here are three reasons that show why the guitar is ideal for flirting:Guitarists are seen as being more creative and imaginative than other people. This also has to do with the amount of charisma they give off.The neuroscientist Daniel Levitin explains that music played on the guitar draws most of the lobes of the brain and the emotions that it generates. In sum, guitar music connects with our deepest emotions that are impossible to control.The myth of the bad boy/girl: it’s pretty much a fact that the guitarist is synonymous with freedom, even at the expense of social rules. Ever heard of the famous saying “Sex, drugs and rock’n’roll”? Enough said!And what if we said that learning guitar is a remedy for aging?In conclusion, we can affirm that the guitar is the best medicine ag ainst ennui and depression. So what are you waiting for to buy a guitar?It relaxes guitarists and brings numerous physical and mental benefits.So be kind to your neurons by strumming the strings of your Gibson or Fender Stratocaster like the famous guitarists!Take your daily dose of serotonin, endorphin and oxytocin by getting that guitar out!You can even give lessons eventually!

What is it Like to Attend Ohio Wesleyan University

What is it Like to Attend Ohio Wesleyan University Hannah earned her bachelors degree in theatre and English literature from Ohio Wesleyan University. She specializes in American literature tutoring, test prep tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, she shares her experience at Ohio Wesleyan University: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Hannah: Ohio Wesleyan University is located in Delaware, Ohioa small suburb of the states capital, Columbus. One of the best parts of OWU is its location; you get the college-town community of Delaware with big-city Columbus right in your backyard. I never had a car during my time on campus, but I had plenty of friends with vehicles. Campus is completely walkable, so a car or a bus is not necessary to get to class. I felt safe throughout my time on campus. Whenever I was out with friends, there was an unwritten rule that no one would walk home alone. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Hannah:Professors and academic advisors at OWU are extraordinarily accessible. I became very close with the professors in my department. I cannot say enough good things about my professors at OWUthey challenged me to do my best work, they offered help when I was struggling, and they shaped me into the scholar I am today. How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Hannah:OWU is a residential campusover 90 percent of students live on campus, either in residence halls, SLUs (Small Living Units), fraternity houses, or themed houses. SLUs are unique to OWUeach house is dedicated to a specific set of values and beliefs, and each house member must complete one house project each year. Each residence hall has something different to offer. From the 24/7quiet hours of the honors residence hall, to the first-year-only Bashford and Thomson halls, there is a place for everyone. There are two main dining halls on campus: Smith on the residential side, and the Food Court in Hamilton-Williams Campus Center. There are various cafes and bakeries spread throughout campus, and there is even a convenience store located in Thomson Hall that accepts food points. In addition to on-campus dining, students receive 100 off-campus food points each semester, which can be redeemed at various restaurants in downtown Delaware. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Hannah:Psychology, zoology, economics, and English are popular majors on campus. I majored in theatre and English literature. I went into college knowing I would major in theatre, and I like to joke that English happened accidentally. I am very pleased with how my university supported my areas of study. I could not have asked for a better college experience. How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Hannah:I had no problem making friends as a freshman. However, the way OWU structures orientation makes forming connections with new people inevitable. As an incoming student, I was adamantly against Greek life. But, after spending time with the members of a particular sorority, I warmed up to the idea of going through recruitment. By Thanksgiving Break, I could hardly wait to join. Accepting a bid was one of the best decisions Ive ever made, and my sorority experience was one of the best parts of my college days. How helpful are the Career Centerand other student support services? Hannah:I didnt take advantage of the Career Center all that much, simply because I found out about theatre opportunities through my professors and my own research. Career fairs came to campus often. How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Hannah:The library is packed before and during finals week, but thats to be expected. The student union gets crowded at lunch, simply because its the prime lunch location. Residence hall lounges are definitely utilized, either for study sessions or meeting up with friends. Describe the surrounding town. Hannah:Delaware is a small college town with fun shops and restaurants. Columbus is about thirty minutes away from campus. Students venture into town, but campus is always buzzing with an event. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Hannah:The student body is rather intimate. I went to a small high school, so I knew I wanted to attend a small university. I was pleased with the small class sizes; I never had a class of more than 35 people. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Hannah:During my last semester at OWU, I took a course called How To Write Like Shakespeare. After extensive research, analysis of Shakespeares work, and plotting, my group produced a five act play called The Tragedie of Tom Riddle. The course was a perfect way for me to put all of the Shakespeare knowledge I had gathered over my four years at OWU into practice by executing an extensive imitation exercise. It was the seventh class I had taken with that English professor, and it was a wonderful way to conclude my English major at OWU. Check out Hannahs tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

How To Find Dance Classes In Leeds

How To Find Dance Classes In Leeds Thinking Of Taking Up A New Hobby? Check Out These Dance Classes In Leeds! ChaptersWhy Start A Dance Class?Where To Find Classes In And Around The Leeds Area?A Roundup Of Leeds Dance Classes SeamDance Teacher 4.96 (24) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamieDance Teacher 5.00 (6) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErickaDance Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlavioDance Teacher 5.00 (7) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimDance Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HannaDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ClareDance Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhy Start A Dance Class?First things first, why would you want to start dancing? After all, going to ballrooms and partnering up with other dance enthusiasts is something that older generations of your family probably used to do after the war. So has the art of dance been brought up to da te? Is the modern dancing revolution here to stay or is it just another trend?Whether it's Salsa, the Cha Cha Cha, or Ballroom that appeals to you, many people initially decide to join a dance class to learn a new skill. And places have been filling quicker than ever thanks to 'Strictly Fever'!Strictly Come Dancing, or Strictly as it is known by fans, is a British television show and dance contest which sees celebrity contestants pair up with professional dance partners and compete for a glitter ball trophy after a series of weeks and physical challenges. Each couple has a week to master and perform a minimum of one dance (at times learning and participating in a group dance for the pre-recorded or live shows) and is scored out of ten. Although he is no longer on the judging panel, no one can forget Head Judge Len's famous 'seven' score!Strictly Come Dancing has seen much success and has taken competitors and professionals around the country to perform on stage. Photo credit: Keith Laverack on VisualHuntBut despite famously appealing to older viewers, the presence of these dancers on prime-time television, along with the relevance of celebrities that take part, are encouraging dancers, young and old, to take to the dance floor. Not only that, but the professionals themselves are even making names for themselves outside of the dancing world and are using their newfound fame to inspire their followers and encourage them to watch their independent dance shows.But aside from learning about ball change, box step, chasse, gancho, heel turns or even outside turns in class, there's much more to be gained from attending a dance workshop.Dancing is not only a great skill, it is also a wonderful social activity and an excellent way to keep fit.See below more reasons to take up social dancing as well as more competitive dancing and where you can find a class near you in your Leeds location.Learn Classic Dance Steps And TechniquesNo matter which type of dance class you opt for, you are going to come out having learned something, especially if you are new to dance instruction and have no experience of dance training. Every dance teacher will focus on techniques used by professional dancers, emphasising sequences of steps, posture, facial expressions and conveying emotion through bodily movements.But don't worry, it's not all serious and school-like, you will definitely have loads of fun too!If you are interested in fast, challenging dance moves performed to upbeat music, then your best bet is to look for Latin, Street, Jazz, Swing or Freelance dance classes. However, if you want to find a dance class that is emotional, sensual and classical then you could try your hand at Ballroom, which includes the Foxtrot, Tango, Viennese Waltz and Waltz. Quickstep is also classed as a style of Ballroom dance yet this does involve a much faster rhythm and therefore movement, hence the name!Latin is made up of dance styles like the Mambo, Rumba, Argentine Tango, Jiv e, Lambada, Merengue, Salsa and Samba. Zumba, an energetic dance class that took the country by storm this decade, also comes under this category and is offered by dance centres nationally (usually marketed primarily as a fitness class).Improve Your Health And FitnessWhile you may not think that slow dancing like some Ballroom dances could take up much energy, it is the relentless practising that keeps you fit, not to mention the distance you travel whilst in hold. If you have ever watched a couple dance the Foxtrot or even the Waltz, you will have seen that the pair makes use of every square inch of the available dance space and therefore adds a significant number of steps to their step count.You may wish to learn to dance to increase your fitness and muscle definition. Photo credit: Puparrazi PhotographY on VisualhuntNeedless to say, taking part in active dances like the Samba or similar will work your body hard, leaving you with aches and pains from your cheekbones down to your t oes. But it will all be worth the blood, sweat and tears when you see improvement week on week. Then, in no time at all, you could be an accomplished dancer with a raised level of fitness who just loves to dance at every opportunity.Furthermore, the visible and psychological effects of dancing classes will, sure enough, boost your self-esteem, making each rehearsal even more enjoyable than the last.So, if you do decide to join a dance class, make sure you wear your pedometer or smartwatch so that you can see just how beneficial the lesson is to your overall health and fitness regime!If Birmingham is your closest city, have a read of our blog on dance lessons in Birmingham.Make New Friends And ConnectionsIt is not uncommon for people to join a dance class to meet new people who share their passion for dancing. Some might even sign up just for something to do and new to experience. Regardless of whether you are interested in the history of dance or you just want to come along to shake your hips, you will no doubt build new relationships and make new friends with whom you enjoy catching up with each week.Dancing is, by nature, quite a sensual activity so if you are starting dance lessons in order to spark a romantic connection then you could very well be paired up with your future husband or wife!They don't call it the 'Strictly Curse' for no reason... multiple dancers on the BBC show have fallen for their celebrity dance partners and become real-life romantic partnerships. Some have even left their spouses after dancing their way into the arms of another!Benefits Of Learning To Dance For ChildrenTeaching beginners choreography skills to little ones can be great for their fundamental development of fine motor skills. Classes aimed at very young babies and toddlers like acrobatics and early years dance classes near me (i.e. Tumble Tots, Dancing Tots, etc...) not only give kids an early lesson in how to dance and some basic performing techniques, they also encourag e them to be expressive and artistic, which is a great experience for youngsters who decide they want to be professional dancers or enter the world of theatre.Baby ballet is also a fantastic class to teach young dancers about the traditions of ballet as a style of dance and teaches them about behaviour by making them listen to commands and instructions. Dance parties, which are offered by many community halls, are also brilliant to give growing kids a work out with some upbeat, high energy floor work. It will be a great exercise for you too as you will no doubt have to look forward to joining in with their freestyle dance routine!Learn about learning to dance in Glasgow.Where To Find Classes In And Around The Leeds Area?Among one of the largest cities in England, this West Yorkshire community certainly has a lot of choices to offer to dance lovers in the region. With a variety of independent clubs and dance schools near me, as well as workshops held at nearby schools, colleges and c ommunity centres, you are sure to find a class that suits you.Salsa your way to a more confident you. Photo credit: lawrencegerald on Visual huntFind below more information on the venues available and the specific classes they offer.Top-Rated LocationsAmong the top-rated places (by the Google community) to study dancing are:Salsa Rocks Leeds (5/5), EastgateElevations Academy for Dance, Theatre and Gymnastics (5/5), Chapel AllertonPaula Clark School of Dance (5/5), various locations including Rothwell and WakefieldCornell School of Dance (5/5), AdelEXP Dance (5/5), RoundhayDanceworks (5/5), MoortownThe Edmonds Dance Centre (5/5), Bankfield TerraceDancing Tots (5/5), AlwoodleyFlex Dance Inc (4.8/5), various locationsNorthern School of Contemporary Dance (4.7/5), ChapeltownArmley Dance Studio (4.7/5), ArmleyThe Dance Studio Leeds (4.6/5), Mabgate MillsTrishool Dance Academy (4/5), MoortownIf Manchester is closer to you, find out what dance classes it has to offer in our blog!Classes Av ailableMeanwhile, if none of the above academies, clubs or schools appeals to you, then rest assured that there are many others available to you, each offering a variety of dance styles to choose from, from private dance classes to group dance programs.Let's take a closer look at some of the specific dance workshops, sessions and camps that you could enrol in.Adult classesGenre: Ballroom / Latin Date and time: Saturday 12.30pm (refer to term dates) Venue: Yorkshire Dance Duration: 1 hour Tutor: Paula Clark Cost: £5.50 in advance / £6.50 drop-in Level: Beginner How to book: Email paulaclarkschoolofdance@ymail.com or Tel 07780 688623Genre: Contemporary technique Date and time: Wednesday 6.30pm Venue: Northern School of Contemporary Dance Duration: 1.5 hours Cost: £55 per 10-week term ( £50 concessions) Level: Beginner-Intermediate How to book: Visit nscd.ac.ukKids classesGenre: Street Dance Date: Tuesday Venue: Scala Kids Level: Designed for students of Dance and those hoping to ha ve a pro career How to book: Call the office for bookings and further detailsGenre: Developmental classes for children of 18 months+ Date: Monday 12.30pm Venue: Mothercare, Leeds Cost: £4.50 trial, £5.50 for further sessions How to book: Contact Sarah on 07796 135199 or Email dancingtotsleeds@sky.comIf you're a Londoner, check out our article on learning to dance in the capital.A Roundup Of Leeds Dance ClassesWhether you are looking to choreograph your first dance/wedding dance routine, brush up on your basic movement and steps techniques, take up couples classes, participate in tap classes or showcase your ballet abilities, you will find a class that is made for you.Remember that you are not restricted to the dance classes that are listed online, many dance tutors will happily work with your strengths and weaknesses to help you achieve your goals.Their time is not unlimited, however, so you will need to research types of dance (Latin dance classes, Cuban, Classical Ballet, Hip Ho p, Swing dancing, Pole dancing, Bellydancing, Bollywood Dance, Breakdancing, Jazz Funk and more), and be true to yourself about what you actually want to be taught.Are you keen to dance competitively, gain confidence, improve your flexibility, or to express your inner musicality?Take a look at our blog on dance lessons elsewhere in the UK.

4 Ways Personalized Learning Positively Impacts Students

4 Ways Personalized Learning Positively Impacts Students In a classroom, every student learns in a different way at a different pace. The concept of personalized learning is not a new practice in the school system. It is, however, a practice that is quickly evolving and changing not only the way students learn, but also the way educators teach. Personalized learning takes instruction and tailors it to each students individual abilities, pace, and interests. According to Digital Promise Global, Personalized learning offers a path to effectively support the growing diversity of the population of students by understanding how individual learners learn best and actively engage, motivate, and inspire them with the right resources at the right time, in the right medium, and at the right pace. The current technological landscape has changed the way teachers and students engage with personalized learning. It provides new mediums, new ways of understanding students needs, and unique opportunities for advancement. Personalized learning can positively impact students by increasing engagement, encouraging collaboration, and promoting independence. With the incorporation of technology into personalized learning, students are able to use interactive software and programs to grasp concepts and explore creative ways to execute assignments and projects. Here are four ways personalized learning through technology positively impacts students: 1. Personalized learning can incorporate project-based learning Personalized learning and project-based learning can often go hand-in-hand. Project-based learning encourages students to engage in real world problem-solving in order to better understand the complex issues behind the topic at hand. In other words, students conduct research and execute projects surrounding the concepts they are studying, as opposed to simply reading about topics and taking tests. According to Barbara Kurshan, a contributor for Forbes, personalized learning promotes student agency and empowerment by providing students with choices for learning based on how they learn best, what motivates them to learn and their academic goals. In this way, personalized learning and project-based learning are somewhat similar. They both aspire to place the learning and the motivation behind it directly into students hands. With that said, there are many ways to use technology to propel personalized and project-based learning. Having technological resources in their hands provides students with a new world of gathering, transforming, and presenting information that they wouldnt have access to if not for advances in the fields of education and technology. For example, project-based learning encourages students to think outside the box. With the incorporation of technology, students are given new mediums for gathering this real world experience in problem-solving and personalizing their learning to their specific needs. [RELATED: How Online Learning Helps Students] 2. Personalized learning can increase student engagement An issue educators often encounter in the classroom is a disconnect between their students and classroom material. If students dont feel they understand concepts or dont feel theyre relevant to their lives, they can withdraw from the subject. In these situations, incorporating technology can greatly impact the experience of the student. As previously stated, personalized learning recognizes each individual student and their needs; therefore, students are likely to feel more included and capable of tackling the class. Case studies have shown that incorporating technology into the classroom setting helps create a personalized experience for students, increases student engagement and achievement, and can boost test scores by 30 percent. When teaching lessons and assigning projects, technology allows teachers to include: Interactive games Engaging presentations Thought-provoking videos. If students feel challenged and have fun learning, engagement with concepts can skyrocket. 3. Student collaboration can be encouraged with personalized learning Before technology burst into the education scene, one of the only ways to communicate with other students on homework or projects was to meet in person. With the incorporation of technology into classrooms, the way students can communicate with each other, and even with teachers, has vastly changed. There are many platforms that students can use to collaborate with other studentssometimes in real-time. When given a group project, students can now use the technology they have at their disposal to better plan a product. Students no longer have to work on a group project at the exact same time as other group members. (However, it is still important to have group meetings.) If students are able to streamline how they communicate with classmates and teachers through technology, it improves their learning experience. Essentially, it allows students to take their work into their own hands. Incorporating technology also allows students to more easily communicate with their teacher about any questions they may have on homework, projects, or tests. [RELATED: Help Your Child Work Well in Groups With These Tips] 4. Personalized learning promotes independent work skills Personalizing learning can prompt students to work alone and to self-motivate in order to complete assignments. At first, this might sound like a challenge. It can, however, teach students very important life skills. If students understand the importance of learning independent work skills, they may have a better chance of getting excited about taking their education into their own hands. Showing students how great taking ownership of projects and concepts they are learning about can be can help them get even more out of their education. Students should understand that just because independent work skills are encouraged doesn't mean the teacher wont still be there to answer any questions. Reassure your student that the teacher is always accessible, even if they encourage students to practice independent work skills. Remind your student that independent learning has a positive influence on their educational experience. At the end of the day, individualized education helps students feel capable and empowered to take ownership of their educational journey. Encourage students to take advantage of any opportunities to incorporate technology into their learning experience. Students can gain many skills through the combination of technology and personalized learning, including independence and teamwork. Each person... learns in various ways, and the ability to use technology and learning science to truly personalize learning has never been greater, according to Digital Promise Global. It is important to remember this when understanding the positive impact personalized learning through technology can have on a students education. [RELATED: Varsity Tutors Mobile Apps] Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

Decisions GRE or MAT

Decisions GRE or MAT GRE/MAT Graduate School Blog What if I told you that there was an alternative to the GRE that included no essays, almost no math, was administered in less than one-third of the time and offered for less than half of the cost? If you’re a liberal arts grad like me, you’d probably be rather excited about this incredible entrance requirement alternative! Well, this exam already exists. It’s called the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) and it is accepted by hundreds of graduate schools across the country, primarily for acceptance to programs with focuses in the humanities and social sciences. The MAT is a 60-minute computer-administered exam consisting of 120 four-part analogy questions, where applicants must select one of four choices that best complete the proposed analogy. These analogies test a number of subjects including vocabulary, social sciences, mathematics, natural sciences, arts, literature, and music among other topics. Due to this minimalist format, the exam eschews long-form problem solving or writing skills in favor of rewarding esoteric logic, quick thinking, and broad cultural knowledge. Do Your Target Schools Accept the MAT? This is the first and most important consideration, when deciding whether to take the MAT. Obviously, most prospective graduate students have specific programs they are targeting and those schools may or may not accept this lesser-known exam. Let’s begin by discussing programs that generally won’t accept the MAT for their standardized testing requirement. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) degree programs most often will not accept the MAT due to its lack of mathematics content. Of course, if you were a STEM major in college, it’s unlikely that the GRE Quantitative section represents a major challenge that you are looking to avoid. However for post-graduate degrees that do not have a mathematics component, the MAT is gaining some acceptance as an alternative test. So, if you are experiencing anxiety about completing the GRE with any degree of success, especially the Quantitative section, it is well worth emailing or calling your target schools’ admissions offices to see if the MAT is a viable option. How to Prepare for the MAT Because the MAT is such a basic exam, preparation usually takes less time than what is ideal for the GRE. In general, an 8-12 week prep plan is the minimum recommended amount of time needed to prepare for the GRE, but that can often be halved for the MAT for a couple of reasons. First, the question format requires less process-based instruction since there is only one question type to prepare for. Second, the exam content is generally learned over time by rote memorization of certain abstract facts, which often can only be retained for a finite period. In short, the MAT is, quite possibly, the only grad school exam you can cram. There are, of course, even helpful apps, like this MAT prep solution from Pocket Prep, to help you do that. That said, the format is not simply a straightforward A is to B as C is to D analogy, and there are traps that can be identified with some practice. MyGuru offers in-person and online MAT tutoring to assist students in preparing for this unique test by utilizing official practice tests from Pearson and our extensive experience in helping students understand, identify, and break down analogies. If you want a less strenuous testing experience, and your school accepts the exam, consider the Miller Analogies Test! About the Author Stefan Maisnier is the Director of Online Tutoring at MyGuru and MyGuru’s top Miller Analogies Test tutor. He has been tutoring graduate school candidates for more than a decade since even before he earned his Masters of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University.

Dont Forget the Subject! Common ESL Mistakes

Dont Forget the Subject! Common ESL Mistakes Recently Ive been noticing a lot of my ESL/EFL students that speak Spanish or Portuguese as a first language make a similar mistake, leaving out the subject of certain English sentences.For example, Ive heard several students say: Is hot.Can you see the problem with that sentence? It is missing a subject. The sentence should be, It is hot, with it as the subject.The reason for this mistake is fairly obvious. In Latin-based languages, such as Spanish or Portuguese, the subject is often part of the verb. In Spanish, for instance, the same sentence would read: Hace calor. The verb hacer has been conjugated to indicate the subject.In English, the subject is separate from the verb, and only changes it in the third person singular with a few exceptions (to be is one of the exceptions). Saying Is hot, would be similar to saying Hacer calor in Spanish. People would probably understand what you mean, but the sentence sounds strange.Ok, we hope that helped you. If you have any questions about English, feel free to contact us or write them in comments, and we will help.If youre interested in English classes, please contact us with the link above. Click here if you are interested in Spanish classes.

Teach in the UAE in 2018 with Emirates National Schools (with job postings)

Teach in the UAE in 2018 with Emirates National Schools (with job postings) If you’re a qualified teacher looking to broaden your horizons, teaching in the UAE could be just the opportunity for you! For the past decade, teachers from all over the world have been flocking to the UAE in droves, drawn to the tax-free salaries and luxury living. And while it’s true that the quality of life and general living standards are exceptional in the UAE, that’s not all that the country has to offer. A true cultural melting pot (the UAE is home to over 200 nationalities), there’s historyand culture by the bucket load in each of the seven emirates. Living and teaching in the UAE will expose you to new people, traditions and experiences on a daily basis. And don’t forget the sunny weather, the stunning beaches and the wealth of incredible experiences available on your doorstep! Want to find out your earning potential teaching anywhere in the world? Get a decent idea of what you can expect with the help of our free teach abroad salary calculator! Emirates National Schools vacancies for 2018 Emirates National Schools are currently on the lookout for certified teachers with at least two years of teaching experience across a variety of subjects and grade levels for openings at their campuses throughout the UAE. Vacancies at Emirates National Schools for the 2018 school year include: Kindergarten teachers Elementary teachers Middle school English teachers Middle school science teachers Middle school math teachers High school chemistry teachers High school biology teachers High school physics teachers High school math teachers These two-year teaching contracts come with a lucrative, tax-free monthly salary (which varies depending on your subject specialty and experience level) and stellar benefits, including: Furnished accommodation Annual airfare for you and up to three dependents Medical insurance End-of-contract bonus Visit the Emirates National Schools page on Teach Away to find out more about the schools and available positions (or simply click the links above to apply). Best of luck with your application!

8 Extensive Reading Activities for Language Learners Teaching Themselves

8 Extensive Reading Activities for Language Learners Teaching Themselves Uh, oh.  That  book just came out.Cancel all meetings. Postpone all  plans with friends. Hire a dog/cat sitter for several days.Do anything important  now, because once  that book is in your  hands  nothing is going to get done.Everyone has one of  those  books, right?Books that you just cannot put downâ€"no matter how much you try. You fall so deeply in love with the world the author has created for you, that you forget the actual world youre living in.This sort of pleasurable adventure is just as possible in a foreign language as in your native one. If youve been hitting wall after wall trying to drag yourself through a book that you hardly understand, give  extensive  reading a try instead.In extensive reading you should know at least 98% of the words on a page. In other words, it should  feel like reading. You should have that wonderful feeling of being wrapped up in a story, unable to set the book down even to eat.Unfortunately many of us have come to associate learning with unn ecessary suffering. All those late night cram sessions seemed to pay off, so why should it be any different with language learning? Well actually, language learning can be enjoyable  and effective. At least some of the time. Why Extensive Reading Is the Key to Your SuccessReading and being able to understand something is good. Reading and being able to understand something quickly is even better. How do you get faster at reading? Read a lot. One study  carried out by St. Lukes International University showed that students in an extensive reading program were able to significantly increase their reading speeds, while those in an intensive programâ€"who read less but harder materialâ€"had zero gain in reading speed.If thats not enough, extensive reading also has just about every other advantage you can imagine.  Research seems to support the idea that extensive reading can lead to better reading comprehension, a larger vocabulary and a higher level of motivation. That last one is by no means the least important, since motivation is one of  the key factors in how fast you develop.Now, you could just pick up a book (at the appropriate level) and go to town on it. But if you really want to maximize your time spent on extensive reading, there are a few activities that are super effective. Lets look at eight of them:8 Extensive Reading Activities for Language Learners Teaching Themselves1. Prime your knowledgeThis is a very basic activity that will make your extensive reading easier and more effective.First, skim through roughly the amount of text you plan on reading. Maybe a chapter or two at a time. Youre looking for any unknown words, but mostly the ones that appear over and over again. These are the words that are going to make it easy  to understand the basic plot elements of the story or the basic argument of the article. Look up a basic definition for each. Then you can add context and feeling to the definition as you read and see the word in a sentence.Next , read over the dust jacket summary and take a good look at the cover illustration if youre reading a book. If youre reading an article, read the headline and the subheadings. From this information alone, make a prediction about what the story or article will be about. This requires you to gather all the relevant vocab and background knowledge you have of the subject, making it easier to contextualize and understand what youre about to read.2. Write book reports and book reviewsThis one is probably self explanatory. When you finish a book, just write out a simple piece about it, including a basic summary and some of your own feelings about the text.Writing something like this will help to  create a personal understanding of the text by making you reread certain sections of the text to confirm that your understanding of the work is correct. Since this also serves as a test of your ability to recall details of the text, itll be much more likely that youll remember new vocab and gramma r in the long-run.To make sure you really put the effort in to comprehend whats going on, try publishing your review on a site like Goodreads or Amazon.3. Do timed readingsExtensive reading is  already a great way to get your reading speed up, but if youre still not as fast as you want to be, heres how to get better.The simplest task is a timed read. Choose a set number of pages and set a stopwatch for a set amount of time. Of course, texts vary a lot. Sometimes theres a lot of dialogue and you can read it quickly without any problem. Other times  its full of difficult descriptions and you have to struggle to make it to the end. So try to pick a time that would be reasonably difficult but possibleâ€"whatever happens in the text.A tweak on this activity is to pick a section, read it and time how long it takes you. Then when youve finished, reread that section, only now try to read it 20% faster. It goes without saying that you should try to read it quickly the first time, or else the second part of the activity wont be much of a challenge.Theres one other activity thats truly excellent for timed reads, but it can be a bit trickier. Youll have to find a partner whos learning the same language as you and is at about the same level of proficiency. Agree to read a set number of pages and race each other to see who finishes first. The person who finishes first should have to give a decent summary of what she or he read to prove that they really read it.4. Join book club discussionsJust like in your native language, book club discussions can provide great motivation to make sure you actually read what you want to. They also allow you to hear other peoples thoughts on the book that might have never occurred to you otherwise. This can be a wonderful way to go over confusing grammar or just make sure youre reading what you think youre reading. Sometimes its easy to have an existential crisis about whats really on the page when youre reading a book in a foreign language all by yourself.Besides the reasons above, book club discussions can be a great way to roll together speaking and reading practice. If you host your discussions in the language youre learning, youll quickly be able hold a decent conversation about literature. And youll probably have to do some quick scanning for passages you want to use. Being able to switch back and forth between different parts of language is always a valuable skill.To find a book club,  Meetup is always a great place to start. However, since most book clubs around seem to be in English, you can either try to read the book in your target language,  or start a new club where everyone reads in the target language. This is probably easier than you think. Are you a member of a language group already? Do you have friends who are studying the same language? All you need to do is convince two or three people to join you, and you have a book club.5. Create chain storiesThis is another activity that requires a partner at a bout the same level of proficiency as you.You and a partner choose two different books. Its probably more fun if theyre on wildly different topics. Begin by reading the first chapter or a set number of pages from one book and have your partner do the same from the other book. When youve finished, you each to have to summarize what youve just read to the other person as clearly and in as much detail as you can.Now switch books and read the next section. Even if your partner made mistakes, hopefully you can figure them out and have some fun correcting them.6. Work on your creative writingHad enough of summarizing the story? Why not try rewriting it? Creative writing based on what youve just finished reading can be a highly effective tool for solidifying those gains in vocab/grammar that youve made.Perhaps the most fun time to do this is when youre faced with a terrible ending to an otherwise good story. Weve all had this happen to us. Were blissfully turning page after page. We see th at the number of pages is slowly dwindling down, but there doesnt seem to be anything in the narrative that suggests so. And then the story just ends, as if the author had never read an ending themselves. Now is your chance to do what needs to be done. Write what they should have written in the first place.An enjoyable alternative to this activity is to take one chapter of a book and rewrite it in a different genre. Think Pride and Prejudice and Zombies or Android Karenina. The result can be hilariously entertaining.And if youve gone through these activities a thousand times, you can always  write a letter to a character in the book about something you agree or disagree with, trying to assume the same tone as the book. Done well, it can give you an entirely new connection to what youre reading.7. Keep vocabulary journalsIn addition to the vocabulary you pulled out from the text in the first activity, you can also keep a vocabulary journal for those words that you inevitably miss whe n youre skimming the text.A vocabulary journal doesnt need to be fancy. When you see a new word or phrase that you think is important, write it down in your journal. If possible, add your own definition based on context clues and an example sentence. That way, when you look it up later you can see it in context again.If youre learning French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese or German, you can also check out the web version of the MosaLingua app, which gives you pre-selected content to learn with, including authentic reading material, and allows you to look up words and phrases instantly with a translator tool. You can also turn vocabulary into flashcards to ensure you dont forget about it.And when youre all finished with what youre reading, go back and try to write a summary that includes all of the words you recorded in your vocabulary journal.8. Skim and scanThese two activities are for those with a dire wish to be able to read as fast as a native speaker.For skimming, pick a chapter and read only the first and last sentence of each paragraph. When youve finished, write out a summary. Then read the text again slowly and see if there are any important details youve missed. If so, what strategies do you think you could use to skim the text more effectively without slowing down? Tinker with how you do your skimming until it seems like you can read anything in no time, and still be able to write the equivalent of a late night school essay.But maybe you dont need to read the whole text. Maybe you just want to be able to find answers to specific questions as quickly as possible. Thats where scanning comes in. For this, its best if you can find readings that come with questions. Often times books that have been marked for book clubs will include questions in the back. Otherwise, you might try generating some of your own questions based on the topic of the book or chapter.You dont have to try every one of these activities. Just grab the ones that stick out to you. Afte r all, theyre to be paired with extensive readingâ€"that wonderfully joyous way to spend a lazy Sunday. Or any other day for that matter. For once, you can let the pressure go and just have fun, knowing that youll be learning all the while. And One More ThingFluentU gives you a chance to practice reading in a foreign language right along with your favorite videos!FluentU takes real-world videos like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks, and turns them into language learning experiences. Just a quick look will give you an idea of the range of content available:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You can learn all t he vocabulary in any video with FluentUs learn mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.Start using FluentU on the website with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the iTunes store  or Google Play store.